Canola and hydrogenated soybean oils accelerate ectopic bone formation induced by implantation of bone morphogenetic protein in mice

AbstractCanola oil (Can) and hydrogenated soybean oil (H2-Soy) are commonly used edible oils. However, in contrast to soybean oil (Soy), they shorten the survival of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive (SHRSP) rats. It has been proposed that the adverse effects of these oils on the kidney and testis are caused at least in part by dihydro-vitamin K (VK) 1 in H2-Soy and unidentified component(s) in Can. Increased intake of dihydro-VK1 is associated with decreased tissue VK2 levels and bone mineral density in rats and humans, respectively. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of these oils on bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-induced ectopic bone formation, which is promoted by VK2 deficiency, in relation to the role of VK in the γ-carboxylation of osteocalcin and matrix Gla protein. A crude extract of BMPs was implanted into a gap in the fascia of the femoral muscle in 5-week-old mice maintained on a Soy, Can, or H2-Soy diet. Newly formed bone volume, assessed by three-dimensional X-ray micro-computed tomography and three-dimensional reconstruction imaging for bone, was 4-fold greater in the Can and H2-Soy groups than in the Soy group. The plasma carboxylated osteocalcin (Gla-OC) and total OC (Gla-OC plus undercarboxylated osteocalcin [Glu-OC]) levels were significantly lower in the Can group than in the Soy group (p < 0.05). However, these levels did not significantly differ between the H2-Soy and Soy groups. The plasma Gla-OC/Glu-OC ratio in the Can and H2-Soy groups was significantly lower (in Can; p = 0.044) or was almost significantly lower (in H2-Soy; p = 0.053) than that in the Soy group. In conclusion, Can and H2-Soy accelerated BMP-induced bone formation in mice to a greater extent than Soy. Further research is required to evaluate whether the difference in accelerated ectopic bone formation is associated with altered levels of VK2 and VK-dependent protein(s) among the three dietary groups

8-Prenylnaringenin tissue distribution and pharmacokinetics in mice and its binding to human serum albumin and cellular uptake in human embryonic kidney cells

8-Prenylnaringenin (8-PN), a hop flavonoid, is a promising food substance with health benefits. Compared with nonprenylated naringenin, 8-PN exhibits stronger estrogenic activity and prevents muscle atrophy. Moreover, 8-PN prevents hot flushes and bone loss. Considering that prenylation reportedly improves the bioavailability of flavonoids, we compared the parameters related to the bioavailability [pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution in C57/BL6 mice, binding affinity to human serum albumin (HSA), and cellular uptake in HEK293 cells] of 8-PN and its mother (non-prenylated) compound naringenin. C57/BL6 mice were fed an 8-PN or naringenin mixed diet for 22 days. The amount of 8-PN (nmol/g tissue) in the kidneys (16.8 ± 9.20), liver (14.8 ± 2.58), muscles (3.33 ± 0.60), lungs (2.07 ± 0.68), pancreas (1.80 ± 0.38), heart (1.71 ± 0.27), spleen (1.36 ± 0.29), and brain (0.31 ± 0.09) was higher than that of naringenin. A pharmacokinetic study in mice demonstrated that the Cmax of 8-PN (50 mg/kg body weight) was lower than that of naringenin; however, the plasma concentration of 8-PN 8 h after ingestion was higher than that of naringenin. The binding affinity of 8-PN to HSA and cellular uptake in HEK293 cells were higher than those of naringenin. 8-PN bioavailability features assessed in mouse or human model experiments were obviously different from those of naringenin

Mental Health Effects of Tourism in the South Pacific Islands

本研究は，8日間の南太平洋諸島への滞在中における，活動，交流，および調整された食事摂取などのライフスタイルの変化が，特に精神的健康度に及ぼす影響について検討することを目的とした. 自主的に参加した中高齢女性9人（66.9 ± 4.7歳）を対象に，質問紙を用いて，抑うつ傾向 (CES-D)，気分プロフィール (POMS)，個人空間の確保（プライベート空問機能尺度）について滞在初期および終期に調査を行い，滞在前と比較した. また，滞在時に毎日撮影した顔写真を用いた笑顔の表情分析 (FACS : Facial Action Coding System)，さらに滞在時に経験した感情についての語りを内容分析した. その結果，滞在による身体への影響については，体重および腹囲の減少を認めた. 精神的健康への影響については，抑うつ傾向有りの者は，初期に増加したが，終期には皆無となり，POMSの「否定的気分」は初期から終期にかけて低下し，「肯定的気分」は初期に低下した後，終期に上昇した. 個人空間の確保については，「共布空間」と「自己開放」が終期に上昇した. 表情分析および内容分析については，「笑顔」および「肯定的感情」は滞在4日日に最高値となりその後低下し，「否定的感情」は滞在初日に強くその後消失したが，これらの変化は，CES-D や POMS の変化と同期していた. 以上の結果から，中高齢女性の南太平洋諸島への滞在によって，身体的健康度の改善に加えて精神的健康度の改善が示された.The present study investigated the effects of tourism in the South Pacific Islands with a controlled life-style on the mental health status of elderly subjects. A questionnaire survey on mental health, expression analysis and content analysis of emotional experience were conducted on 9 healthy female subjects (mean age, 66.9 ± 4.7 years) during 8 days of tourism. Self-administered questionnaire surveys were conducted prior to, early and late in their stay regarding depressive tendencies (CES-D), mood profile (Profile of Mood States; POMS), and personal space acquisition (Personal Space Scale; PSS). Expression analysis of facial photographs with the Facial Action Coding System (F ACS), and content analysis of self-reported emotional experiences were also performed. Body weight and abdominal circumference were decreased in the stay. Depressive tendencies increased early in the stay but were absent late in the stay. The questionnaire surveys revealed that negative mood was high in the early part of the stay, but decreased late in the stay, while positive mood decreased early in the stay and increased late in the stay regarding the POMS sub-scales. Improved "common-space" and "self-liberation" were observed late in the stay on the PSS. Expression analysis and content analysis of emotional experience revealed that "smiles" and "positive emotions" increased from early in the stay, peaked on day 4, and afterwards gradually decreased. On the other hand, "negative emotions" were higher in the early stay, but afterwards decreased and later disappeared. These observed transitions during the course of the stay approximately synchronized with the questionnaire results, demonstrating an improvement in the mental health of elderly individuals during tourism in the South Pacific Islands

Genetic Polymorphisms of the TGFB1 Signal Peptide and Promoter Region: Role in Wilms Tumor Susceptibility?

The aim of the present study was to investigate the rs1800468 (G-800A), rs1800469 (C-509T), rs1800470 (C29T), and rs1800471 (G74C) TGFB1 genetic polymorphisms and their haplotype structures in patients with Wilms Tumor (WT) and neoplasia-free controls. The genomic DNA was extracted from 35 WT patients and 160 neoplasia-free children, and the TGFB1 polymorphisms were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism. The haplotype structures were inferred, and permutation and logistic regression tests were performed to check for differences in haplotype distribution between the control and WT individuals. Positive associations were found in the recessive model for rs1800469 T allele (OR: 8.417; 95% CI: 3.177 to 22.297; P &lt; 0.001) and for the rs1800470 C allele (OR: 3.000; 95% CI: 1.296 to 6.944; P = 0.01). Haplotype analysis revealed a significant negative association between GCTG and WT (OR: 0.236, 95% CI: 0.105 to 0.534; P = 0.0002); by contrast, the GTTG haplotype was associated with increased risk for WT (OR: 12.0; 95% CI: 4.202 to 34.270; P &lt; 0.001). Furthermore, rs1800469 was negatively correlated with tumor size and a trend toward a positive correlation for capsular invasion was observed in the dominant model (Tau-b: −0.43, P = 0.02 and tau-b: 0.5, P = 0.06, respectively). This is the first study with rs1800468, rs1800469, rs1800470, and rs1800471 TGFB1 polymorphisms in WT, and our results suggest that the TGFB1 promoter and signal peptide region polymorphisms may be associated with WT susceptibility and clinical presentation

コウレイシャ ノ タメ ノ ハン テイリョウテキ ショクモツ セッシュ ヒンド チョウサホウ ノ シサク

Background and Objectives : According to Willett, the semi quantitative food frequency questionnaires (SQFFQ) have become the primary method for measuring dietary intake in epidemiological studies. Today, the same portion size used in adults and the elderly at SQFFQ. However, the portion size for the elderly is not the same for adults. We think the dietary intake for the elderly shows smaller portion size than adults for most foods. So we measured habitual use of portion size among the healthy elderly at 84 food items. We investigated nutrient intake for the elderly by nutrition survey wchich surveyed three season\u27s (early summer, fall, winter) duplicated method. Then we developed a SQFFQ for the elderly from their common foods consumption. The SQFFQ format became eight grades for the frequency and five grades the food consumption. To estimate the validity, newly developed of SQFFQ was compared with the three season\u27s duplicated method. Results and Conclusions : As for the validity, the relative difference between SQFFQ value and the duplicated method value was small. The relative difference of principal nutrients (energy, protein, and fat) were less than 5%, and vitamins A, B_1 and B_2 were 20-10%. Especially, there were significant correlations (p<0.01) between SQFFQ and duplicated method for intakes of vitamin B_1, dietary fiber, calcium and potassium. And there were significant correlations (p<0.05) between SQFFQ and duplicated method for the intakes of energy and vitamin B_2. These results suggest that our developed SQFFQ for a dietary survey that consists of 84 foods items, particularly are reliable for dietary assessment in healthy elderly people